On Thursday contractors began breaking up the concrete surrounds and the children’s pool.

The demolition stage of the work is expected to take about three weeks.

With a budget estimate of $8 million the new pool will include nine lanes, new filtration equipment, heating, an international Olympic standard water polo facility and an aquatic water park, including a splash pad.

The new pool will be built to NSW Country Swimming Championships specifications and school carnivals up to regional level standard.

The existing water slide will remain but will get a facelift. The controllers, filtration and pumps have been removed, while the shade areas at the southern and northern ends of the pool have been removed and are being repaired in preparation for reinstallation once the work on the pool is complete. 

Shade areas and some of the equipment have been removed from the site to be repaired. 

The construction is expected to take about 45 weeks, in time for the 2014/15 swimming season.